Genspace

PROJECTS 2025

DenDefender

finalist project

Isabella Rosas-Pelayo, Alpha Barry, Mercy Nsish Akuoko, Jeremiah Coleman

DenDefender is a low-cost, DIY trap designed to attract and safely collect brown dog ticks from local environments such as backyards and animal shelters. The project promotes community awareness of tick-borne diseases and supports data collection on how climate change may influence tick populations. Partnerships are being pursued with organizations like the Tick Research Lab of Pennsylvania for disease analysis and regional tick surveillance, as well as with animal shelters such as Sean Casey Animal Rescue for field testing. This initiative integrates environmental biology and public health to benefit pet owners, shelters, and communities concerned with animal and human health.

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Instructors 2025

Sarai Mena